Central Frontenac Council - Nov. 26/09

Jeff Green | Nov 26, 2009

Council defers web-casting proposal

The next time you are home alone on a Saturday night, thinking that there are a billion websites out there and nothing to watch, you might curse Central Frontenac Council for deciding not to post their council meetings on the web.

The township’s information technologist Charlene Godfrey prepared information about two live streaming and web archiving services that are available so that people within the township and beyond would be able to view council as they carry out township business at their twice monthly 5-hour sessions.

The cost estimate from one service provider is $7,500 per year plus a one-time camera purchase of $600. Another company offers the service for a $9,000 up front cost and a $3100 annual service fee.

“Do we have any idea of how much use others have made of this?” asked Councilor John Purdon.

“There are some municipalities that are slightly larger than ours, but since we have so many people from outside the region who cannot get to meetings, we are making this proposal,” Godfrey said.

“My own view is that this might be a bridge too far at this point,” said Deputy Mayor Gary Smith.

“I think we should defer this until we get some information about the demand for it,” said Councilor Frances Smith.

The motion to defer was approved.

Municipality lines up behind seniors housing proposal

The proposal to build a four-plex low-income seniors’ housing townhouse on Clement Road in Central Frontenac is facing a hearing of the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).

Neighbours of the proposed development have taken Central Frontenac Township and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to the OMB over the process they used to approve zoning and land severance for the proposed development.

While it is the developer, in most cases, who must pay all legal costs defending the approvals to the board, the developer in this case, North Frontenac Non-Profit Housing, has no budget for legal representation.

Last week, Frontenac County Council agreed to pay half of the legal costs for the housing corporation, to an upset limit of $10,000.

At their own council meeting on Tuesday night (November 24) Central Frontenac made the same commitment, providing a $20,000 cushion for the cash-strapped housing corporation.

“So often we go to the OMB to defend the integrity of our official plan when we say no to people who want to do things, and it is just a cost, but here we are defending a seniors housing project and we will be creating new assessment. It is fitting that we provide the support, especially when seniors’ housing is recognised in our Official Plan,” said Mayor Gutowski

The OMB hearing is expected sometime in January. 

Infrastructure Ontario – Council received a presentation by Bob Keene of Infrastructure Ontario, an agency that offers loans to municipalities for building projects and large capital purchases.

Keen said that Infrastructure Ontario provides interest rates that are similar to what banks offer to municipalities, but they are able to guarantee rates for the life of a loan, even a 15, 20, or 30-year loan, whereas banks’ interest rates usually have to be renegotiated every five years.

Keene also said that the application procedure at Infrastructure Ontario has been streamlined

Treasurer Judy Gay said she has looked at Infrastructure Ontario in the past, and “the interest rates were similar to the banks. The only difference was the onerous application process.”

She said that the guaranteed interest rate is something the township might take advantage of in the future.

Septic system maintenance program – A draft septic system maintenance program was presented to council by the chief building official, Ian Trickett.

The proposal includes stipulations that property owners pump out their systems every five years and provide a certificate of inspection to the township to that effect.

There was talk of a township subsidy for the certificate program, and Ian Trickett said “The proposal is to target the most sensitive area first, waterfront residential in phase 1, general residential in phase 2, etc.”

The details of the plan are still to be worked out, and CAO John Duchene said, “We are asking that this be sent to our lawyer for an opinion at this time, and there is no point us working out the details unless the lawyer says we can go ahead with it.”

“I think the integrity of our environment is important,” said Mayor Gutowski. “I think we should take the next step.”

“We have neighbours that are already doing this,” said Deputy Mayor Gary Smith, “we are behind the eight ball.”

A legal opinion is being sought on the proposal.

Building figures down – For the second year in a row, Central Frontenac has seen a decrease in residential construction activity. Permits for 26 new homes had been taken out by the end of October, and 128 permits in all, for a construction value of $5,185,000.

At the same time last year permits for 30 new homes had been taken out, and 152 in all, for a value of $6,342,000.

By the end of October in 2007, permits for 35 homes had been taken out, and 176 permits in all, for a construction value of $7,083,000

Piccadilly Hall – Ian Trickett reported that plans to construct a handicapped accessible washroom at the rear of the Piccadilly Hall have run into a snag because of structural issues at the rear of the hall. He suggested, for the second time, that the rear should probably be rebuilt instead of renovated.

Councilor Bill Snyder disputed this, saying the hall might be off square, but it is in good shape.

Trickett recommended that a request for proposal be set up to allow contractors to consider either a renovation or a rebuild proposal, and this was accepted.

Rideau Valley Conservation Authority – Del Hallet, general manager of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, made a short presentation to council.

Hallet outlined the authority’s mandate to protect water quality, reduce hazards, consider shoreline conditions, improve watershed habitats, and work on public access and education.

Hallett said, “We are quite blessed when it comes to the area in which we work; our watershed is in better shape than others across the province.”

He also referred to council’s earlier discussion about septic maintenance, and said Rideau Valley, in conjunction with the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, “conducts septic re-inspections in five municipalities” including Tay Valley and North Frontenac.

“We also understand the Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington Health Unit is shifting focus away from approving septic permits for new construction. This might be an opportunity to for us to help out as well,” he said.

Deputy Mayor commends mayor over county governance – Gary Smith attended the most recent meeting of Frontenac County Council where an agreement over governance was reached.

“I commend the mayor for an excellent presentation. I think it will lead to better governance for the county and improved relations between the townships and the county,” he said.